| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-9页 |
| Chapter One: Introduction | 第9-14页 |
| ·The Definition of Irony | 第9-11页 |
| ·Research Questions | 第11-12页 |
| ·Methodology and Data Collection | 第12页 |
| ·Organization of the Thesis | 第12-14页 |
| Chapter Two: Literature Review | 第14-21页 |
| ·Semantic Study of Irony | 第14-16页 |
| ·Pragmatic Study of Irony | 第16-18页 |
| ·Irony as a Violation of the Maxim of Quality | 第16页 |
| ·Irony as an Insincere Speech Act | 第16-18页 |
| ·Cognitive Study of Irony | 第18-21页 |
| ·The Echoic Mention Theory | 第18-19页 |
| ·The Pretense Theory of Irony | 第19-21页 |
| Chapter Three: Theoretical Framework: Conceptual Blending Theory | 第21-31页 |
| ·The Network Model | 第22-25页 |
| ·Component Processes and Governing Principles | 第25-28页 |
| ·Developments and Modifications | 第28-31页 |
| Chapter Four: Recognition Process of Verbal Irony | 第31-54页 |
| ·Expectation Space as the Foundation of Verbal Irony Recognition | 第31-36页 |
| ·Concept of Context in Other Theories | 第31-34页 |
| ·Expectation Space: How Context Takes Part in the Process | 第34-36页 |
| ·Space Clash as the Triggering Mechanism in Irony Recognition | 第36-44页 |
| ·Irony Triggering Mechanism in Different Theories | 第36-40页 |
| ·Space Clash as the Triggering Mechanism of Irony Recognition | 第40-44页 |
| ·Blending: Evaluation Criterion of the Process | 第44-46页 |
| ·Space Verification: Evaluation as the Ultimate Verification | 第46-48页 |
| ·ATentative Study of Verbal Irony | 第48-54页 |
| Chapter Five: Conclusion | 第54-57页 |
| ·Major Findings of the Study | 第54-55页 |
| ·Limitations of the Study | 第55页 |
| ·Suggestions for Future Research | 第55-57页 |
| Bibliography | 第57-60页 |
